Domestic appliance



F. J. HARDMAN DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Aug. 21, 1928.

Filed Oct. 23, 1923 Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

'u NITED STATE-S PATENT orries.

rnnnmucx J. ARDMA or DAYTON, onro', ASSIGNOR TO prince-LIGHT ooMrANY,

or DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE;

- noirnsrro APPLIANCE.

, Application filed' October. 23;. 1928. Serial No. 670,354.

This invention relates to power driven washing machines of the movabletub. type and hasamong itsobj ects to permit return of the tub to adesired positionin case-the tub shouldstop in an undesirable position.when the power circuit-is broken.

In order to carry out this object, the invention consists in. providing;disconnectible driving mechanisinbetween the prime mover and the movabletub, and common means for stopping the prime mover and disconnecting themechanism so: that the tub can be moved to a desired position. I

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the f(')llowing description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form'of thepresent invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a laundry machineof themovable tub type including the present invention, the motor frame beingshown in section with the gear-- ing connected and the tub in one of itstilted positions. 7

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but on a reduced scale, with the tubin normal posi tion and showing the gearing disconnected.

Referring to the drawings, a laundry machine end frame provides apivotal support for shaft 21 secured to one end of washing' tub 22. Theopposite end of tub 22 is provided with a shaft (not shown) similar toshaft 21 and an end frame (not shown) sim ilar to frame 20. A returnspring 23 is provided, having one end thereof attached to a stud 24carried by tub 22 and the other end attached to a stud 25 carried by endframe 20.

The frame of an electric motor 30" is provided with a housing 31 whichis pivoted upon a stud 32 carried by end frame 20. Housing 31 providesbearings 33 and 34 for an armature shaft 35 having a worm 36 adjacentone end thereof. Shaft 35 is held in position within housing 31 by anut43 engaging the threaded end thereof and abutting against bearing 34.Worm 36 meshes with a worm gear 37 mounted on stud 38 carried by frame20. A link 40 is secured to worm gear 37 and to a crank arm 41 securedto shaft 21 carried by tub 22. A handle 42 is provided on the motorframe 30 whereby the motor 30 may be lifted on its pivot 32 to therebydisconnect the worm 36 from the worm gear 37.

The motor lira-me 30 is provided with an end cover- 45 carrying a detentplate 46' having notches 4b and 49. for receiving a' roller 50 carriedby a leaf spring 51. Spring 51 is secured to the frame 20 as at Theroller 50 cooperating, with notcn 49, tends to hold the electric motorin the position shown in Fig. 1 with the gearing connectionsestablished,and; when cooperating with notch 48 holds the electric motor in thetilted position shown in Fig. 2 with the gearing disconnected.

, A. snap switch is securedto the end frame 20 and is operated by an arm56, one end of which has a pin and notch connection with switch button.57;. the other end thereof being secured to housing 31 and: movabletherewitlr. about the axis Switch is connected with a suitable source ofcurrent byia xvii-e158: and with the electric motor by a wire 59. \V ireconnects the electric motor 30 with the source of current.

M ode of operation.

WVhen the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the motorcircuit will be established from the source of current through wire 58,switch 55, wire 59 to the motor 30, wire 60 back to the source ofcurrent. The motor 30 driving the motor shaft 35 causes worm 36 to driveworm gear 37 which in turn drives the tub 22 on its pivot 21 through thelink 40 and crank arm 41.

When it is desired to stop operation of the tub 22, the electric motor30 may be swung on its pivot 32 by lifting upwardly on the handle 42, asviewed in Fig. 1. This upward movement of the motor 30 will cause theworm 36 to be disengaged from the worm gear Y37, and at the same time,the arm 56 will be moved downwardly to operate the switch 55 and therebybreak the motor circuit. As the motor 30 is lifted upwardly, the roller50 will be cammed out of notch 49' in plate 46 and will be forced intothe notch 48 by spring 51, thereby holding the motor 30 in the tiltedposition shown in Fig. 2 with the worm 36 and worm gear 37 disconnected.The return spring 23 will then return the tub 22 to the horizontalposition shown in F ig. 2.

When it is desired to begin operation of the tub 22, the electric motor30 is pushed downwardly on its pivot 32, as viewed in Fig. 2, whereuponthe roller 50 will be cammed out of the notch 48 and be forced into thenotch 49 by spring 51. At the same time, the worm 36 will be connectedwith the worm gear 37 and the arm 56 will be moved upwardly to operatethe switch 55 and thereby establish the motor circuit above described.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a.

preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might beadopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Power operated mechanism comprising, in combination, an oscillatablemember, an electric motor, disconnectible gearing for transmittingmotion from the motor to the member, a motor switch, a pivoted framecarrying the motor and one of the gears and con nected with the switchfor operating the latter in response to movement of the frame, means formaintaining the frame in its operating and non-operating positions andmeans released by movement of the frame to its non-operating positionfor moving the oscillatable member to a desired position.

2. Power operated mechanism comprising, in combination, an oscillatablemember, a motor, means for connecting the motor and member and includinggears, one of which is above the other and disengageable from the lowergear by upward movement of the upper gear, a movable frame supportingthe motor and upper gear and movable upwardly from the lower gear, theupper gear being maintained in mesh with the lower gear due to theweight of the motor, means responsive to movements of the frame forcontrolling the motor and means released by upward movement of the framefor moving the oscillatable member to a given position.

3. Power operated mechanism comprising, in combination, an oscillatablemember, a motor, means for connecting the motor and member and includinga worm and a worm gear located below the worm, a frame pivoted to moveabove the worm gear and carrying the motor and worm whereby themaintaining of the gears in mesh is assisted by the weight of the motor,means responsive to movements of the frame for controlling the motor andmeans released by upward movement of the frame for moving theoscillatable member to a given position.

In testimony whereof I hereto ailix my signature.

FREDERICK J. HARDMAN.

